i-oo AN T TEN T METAPHYSICS. Book I. 



favour tliofe who apply to them in that way, and who do what is 

 agreeable to them, but on the contrary, will puniQi thofe who ne- 

 gled them, and acb contrary to their will. Whatever, therefore, 

 is recommended to them, as the command of thofe fuperior powers, 

 will be readily obeyed. And, thus it appears, that religion is found- 

 -ed in the nature of man ; and that it is impoflible to conceive any 

 number of men colleded together, having the leaft ufe of reafon, 

 though they do not employ it otherwifc than in procuring the necef- 

 faries of life, without fuppofing that they have fome idea of fupe- 

 rior powers, by whom they are to be affifted or hindered in procur- 

 ing thofe neceffaries of life. And, accordingly, in all the barbarous 

 nations of which we have heard, there were men who pretended to 

 ■have a communication with thofe fuperior powers, and to predid 

 to their countrymen events which were to happen, and upon which 

 their good and ill fortune depended. Such there were even a- 

 mong thofe barbarous Indians, and who, therefore, were their in- 

 ftrudors and diredors in all their affairs. Among thefe men the 

 Tefuits Introduced Chriftianity. But it was not by teaching only, 

 or reafoning with them, that they made them Chriftians. But they 

 applied to their fenfes, by which Savages are much more governed 

 than by reafon ; and captivated them by a woifhip of pomp and 

 Ihbw, feftivals and proceflions *, with many ceremonies," which 

 may appear to many to be mere fuperftition, but with which the 

 (Aitholic Religion, as is v^ell known, abounds. 



One 



* * The procefiion of the Holy Sacrament pafTes under a triumphal arch, compofed 

 f of branches of trees adorned with flowers, and with birds of different kinds and co- 

 • lours attached tonhe branches by very long firings, fo that they feem to be altogetlwr 

 •■ at iheir liberty ; and by their notes, mixed with the mufic of the proceffion, make a 

 « moft agreeable melody.' This, fays Charlevoix, (vol. I. p. 258. and 269.) is a beauty of 

 fimple nature ; and, for my part, the iiglit of fuch an arch fo adorned, would have 

 pleal'ed ms more than any arch which archltetSlure could ereiftj and the niufic of fuch 

 a proceffion I likewife believe would have pleafed me more than any concert I ever 

 iieard. 



